Pharmacology in Relation to Medicine BSc

Course overview

Pharmacology is one of the most important areas of clinical practice. On this course, you'll be provided with an honours degree-level of understanding in this crucial area of study. You'll gain a deeper insight into the research necessary to allow compounds to be used as therapeutic agents.

By the end of this specifically designed course, you'll have the knowledge and experience needed to:

• explain how research techniques can be applied to pharmacology
• discuss a limited number of pharmacological topics at current research level
• outline how clinical trials are organised and conducted
• demonstrate enhanced problem-solving abilities and self-help attitudes to learning.

Comments from students of this course include, "plenty of support and interesting lectures", "very useful for medicine", and "great research project".

Course details

The course will:

• prepare you for a career in medicine by providing an up-to-date course of study centred on the pharmacology of modern therapeutics

• provide an opportunity for you to select topics for advanced study

• provide experience of research and further develop transferable skills

• manage your progress effectively and provide support and guidance where appropriate, and encourage staff-student rapport in a friendly and supportive atmosphere.

Research projects

You can apply for, or may be offered, projects in any area of Biomedical Science (eg pharmacology, human physiology, neuroscience, etc) but here are some example titles of projects offered recently by members of the Pharmacology programme team:

• Pharmacology of ‘legal highs’.
• Structural characterisation of the equilibrative nucleoside transporter, a cancer drug target.
• G-protein-coupled receptors, pharmacology, drug discovery.

There is also the option to choose a research project in a broader topic area, such as:

• The Impact of menstrual cycle phase on the airway response to exercise in females with and without asthma (Lab).
• Interaction of oxidised LDL with scavenger receptors and its impact on cancer cell signalling and growth of Epidermoid Carcinoma and Prostatic Adenocarcinoma (Lab).
• Mountain biking as a novel intervention addressing core and functional symptoms and redirecting risk-taking behaviours in adolescent ADHD cohorts (Consultancy).
• Creating frugal solutions to the challenge of malaria on human health in Sub-Saharan Africa (Grand Challenges).

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.

Compulsory modules

Advanced Topics in Pharmacology I (20 credits) – In this module, you'll cover a number of specialised research topics, each containing a series of lectures and other teaching sessions relating to a topic within the field of Pharmacology.

Advanced Skills (20 credits) – This module will develop the competencies – knowledge, skills, and behaviours – needed to succeed beyond your undergraduate degree. You'll be given ownership and responsibility for your professional development, allowing you to tailor your learning to support your capstone experience and address your specific professional developmental needs. It will facilitate your transition into the workplace, career or further study, thereby setting you up for success in your lifelong learning journey.

Capstone Research Project (40 credits) – You'll undertake a research, workplace, or social justice capstone experience, collaborating on a project to co-create a solution or output to a problem relevant to the Biomedical Sciences. Project-based experiential learning is a key feature of the module, as you'll “learn by doing”. You'll be given ownership and responsibility for your education, developing new experiences and competencies (knowledge, skills, and behaviours) that will be highly beneficial to your future career.

Optional modules

Inherited Disorders (20 credits) – You'll cover a general introduction to the study of inherited disorders and the general principles involved in the study of inherited disorders. Highlights on this module include the exploratory approach to learning about different intertied disorders in team presentations.

Advanced Topics in Pharmacology II (20 credits) – In this module, you'll cover a number of specialised research topics, each containing a series of lectures and other teaching sessions relating to a topic within the field of Pharmacology.

Neurophysiology (20 credits) – This module examines the complexity of neural circuits controlling physiological systems, exploring how the integration of sensory information from the body controls homeostatic functions. You'll also investigate how activity in these networks may contribute to disease states, and potential treatments for some diseases, based on manipulations of these networks and/or their targets.

Applied Concepts in Drug Development (20 credits) – This module explores the preclinical and clinical processes involved in evaluating whether optimised lead compounds (or other drug types) are likely to be safe and efficacious as a drug. You'll examine the stages of clinical trials, acquiring the knowledge of the legal and regulatory aspects associated with the protection, marketing, and monitoring of a drug that has been approved for clinical use.

Learning and teaching

On this course, you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

Teaching will be through workshops, seminars, tutorials and a research project. Assessment is similarly varied, including in-course assessment (formative and summative) and written examinations. Depending on the optional modules chosen, the in-course assessment exercises can include essay writing, data analysis and problem solving. The research project will be assessed throughout the project and on the final written report. Degree classification will be based upon the marks obtained in each of the component modules, with the appropriate credit weighting applied.

Entry requirements

Other course specific tests:

International Foundation Year

International students who do not meet the academic requirements for undergraduate study may be able to study the University of Leeds International Foundation Year. This gives you the opportunity to study on campus, be taught by University of Leeds academics and progress onto a wide range of Leeds undergraduate courses. Find out more about International Foundation Year programmes.

Fees

UK: To be confirmed

International: £32,250 (per year)

Tuition fees for UK undergraduate students starting in 2025/26
In November 2024 the UK Government announced that the tuition fee cap may rise to £9,535 from £9,250.

The tuition fee cap for some foundation years may also reduce to £5,760 from £9,250.

This would start from the academic year 2025/26. However, this is subject to final confirmation from the Government. Once available, we’ll publish the fees for the 2025/26 academic year and individual offer letters shall be updated via email and post.

The foundation year courses affected are:
·         Business Studies with Foundation Year BSc
·         Arts and Humanities with Foundation Year BA
·         Interdisciplinary Studies with Preparation for Higher Education BA
·         Social Science (foundation year) BA

Tuition fees for international undergraduate students starting in 2024/25 and 2025/26
Tuition fees for international students for 2024/25 and 2025/26 are available on individual course pages.

Tuition fees for UK undergraduate students starting in 2024/25
Tuition fees for UK full-time undergraduate students are set by the UK Government and will be £9,250 for students starting in 2024/25.

The fee may increase in future years of your course in line with inflation only, as a consequence of future changes in Government legislation and as permitted by law.
 

Read more about paying fees and charges.

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.

Scholarships and financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There is help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government. Find out more in our Undergraduate funding overview.

Applying

Read about applying for intercalation on the School of Medicine website.

This course is taught by

Faculty of Biological Sciences

Contact us

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Career opportunities

The course is designed to give you a challenging, enjoyable and rewarding year which will add significantly to your skills, knowledge, and enhance your career opportunities on graduation.

The course allows full integration with existing science-based BSc courses and the chance of a substantive research project.

In addition to providing subject-specific knowledge, we equip you with the best possible skills for future careers. There is a strong emphasis on practical based teaching, small group teaching, online learning and problem solving. You will gain a wide range of transferable skills which are highly valued by employers. You will be ideally placed to focus on your personal development and make the most of your intercalating year.

Careers support

We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.

Leeds for Life is our unique approach to helping you make the most of University by supporting your academic and personal development. Find out more at the Leeds for Life website.

The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more about Careers support.